Review: New Nintendo 3DS XL

A new iteration of Nintendo’s flagship handheld hardware is upon us and it is unquestionably the best version of its 3DS system yet. Not only does it have faster and more powerful processors in place, it also has additional buttons and the long-overdue addition of another analog stick input. Even the 3D technology that sets itself apart from other devices has seen a face-lift (hurr hurr).

So what exactly do you get when you take the plunge and buy yourself a New Nintendo 3DS XL? The answer is a great device with an already well-stocked game library. For those already in the Nintendo handheld family, the new features you can look forward to are:

Two additional shoulder buttons, ZL and ZR, located further along the upper bezel of the device. While I was initially sceptical of their placement, using the device over the past few days has allowed me to become used to it. My index fingers naturally hovered over both sets of buttons, with the tips over the Z buttons and the area between my knuckles ready to press the regular shoulder buttons. Both sets of inputs give a satisfying click when pressed so you get immediate feedback from them.

The addition of face-tracking to the 3D technology used in the device. On the older model, moving your head slightly outside of its designated view area meant that the screen became a fuzzy mess. With the two cameras mounted at the top of the screen allowing the 3DS to track your eyes, Nintendo have been able to improve their tech to the point where the 3D rarely drops off. If you glance away from the screen, it takes a second to re-acquire your eyes – but these momentary lapses are far easier to forgive than the headache-inducing crashes the older system would undergo when I had the audacity to move my head an inch!

The new ‘c-stick’ is probably the most requested addition to the console, but also probably its weakest implementation. The nub is located at the top right corner of the device and is too close to the bezel of the bottom screen to use naturally. It is difficult to explain but I always ‘know’ when I am using the nub – I need to make a conscious effort to interact with it. While it does work for games like Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, the stick doesn’t move at all – meaning there is no direct feedback and you end up trying to push it more aggressively than necessary.

When I was imagining a 3DS XL hardware revision in my head, it looked more like the below (please excuse the terriblly hacked-together image, but you get the idea):

Despite the improved processor having no visible impact on the device, it is probably the most beneficial change. Not only does it improve load times for the games that already exist on the 3DS, it also allows Nintendo to push what the console is capable of – such as handling the 3D port of Xenoblade Chronicles. Added to that, the Internet browser on the 3DS has been overhauled to utilise the added power, making it useful for the first time!

One quirk I found with the device was the requirement to remove the back plate to replace the micro SD card. Two stiff screws need to be loosened in order to access the port. However, as this will not be a frequent task, and it also grants users access to the 3DS’ battery for replacement, it is a negligible issue.

And yet, despite all of this, I would find it difficult to recommend the New Nintendo 3DS XL as a must-own piece of hardware. What makes that last statement more strange than you might think is my hesitancy in recommending it has very little to do with the hardware itself – which as I already pointed out is the best iteration of the device yet. The main reasons I do have is the lack of support this new hardware will receive.

So far Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is the only game announced that will make use of the New 3DS’ additional power. This means that if you already own a 3DS or XL, there is little reason to upgrade. There may be a handful more exclusive 3DS titles released for the device, but Nintendo is already walking a fine line with its confusing naming. The last thing they want is less informed parents buying 3DS games for their children’s 3DS’ and they cannot play them.

The New 3DS XL is well-worth buying if you do not own a 3DS already. It is a fantastically-built device with a huge game library and a less-gimmicky 3D implementation. If money is not an issue for you, or the new additions have more weight on your opinion than mine, then current 3DS owners may be able to justify the purchase to themselves – however, most won’t.

Tags: 3DS, 3DS XL, New 3DS, New 3DS XL, Nintendo